Apples on Horseback using fresh apples is a simple yet elegant apple appetizer that delivers big flavor and stunning presentation. Crisp, sweet apples are paired with creamy cheese, wrapped in pancetta, skewered on spears of fresh rosemary and grilled crispy.
What Are Devils On Horseback?
“On Horseback.” There are lots of variations to this simple appetizer.But all are wrapped in some sort of bacon and are riding on the stick of your choice. I always associate them with the Christmas season.
Devils on horseback are traditionally served as a hot appetizer of dried fruit stuffed with cheese or nuts, wrapped in bacon, prosciutto or pancetta. The traditional British method calls for using pitted dates and bacon, but prunes are also used in many recipes. They can be steeped in brandy or some other liqueur, then fried or baked and served on toast with a condiment such as chutney or mustard.
Angels on Horseback are oysters wrapped in bacon.
Why Fresh Apples Work In This Appetizer
For my version, we’re switching things up a bit and rather than using dried fruit, I’m using fresh apples. A simple and delicious apple appetizer using sliced apples, cheese and pancetta = Apples on Horseback.
- The sweetness and crunch of fresh apples work extremely well with the creamy cheese and salty bacon. It’s a flavor combination that comes together so well.
- You’ll also like the texture of a crisp, fresh apple better than chewy dried dates or prunes.
- Apples on Horseback is an easy to make apple appetizer with a bit of a wow factor.
- Simple with ingredients.
- You’ll feel special when served an appetizer that been skewered on a stalk of fresh rosemary? Such an appealing presentation and intoxicating aroma.
- Delicious and ready in 30 minutes.
- Entertaining Value: Something about the informality of eating with your hands, or from a skewer on a small plate alongside a glass of wine or cocktail is a great formula for comfortable conversation.
Table of contents
Ingredients – Apple Devils on Horseback
Best Apple Varieties For This Recipe
- #1 Choice, Pink Lady Apples: A crisp, gorgeous, perfectly round apple that’s hard to miss while browsing the apple section, the pink lady apple is a sweet tart apple with a crisp bite and firm texture. The pink lady is slow to oxidize (turn brown) so is a great selection for serving on a appetizer platter as apple wedges. If you can’t find them here are other options.
- Red Delicious Apples
- Honey Crisp Apples
- Ambrosia
- Evercrisp
- Fuji
- Cheese: Purchase a block of cheese so you an cut into batons. A mild to medium cheddar works well here because it’s a traditional “cheese and apple” flavor combo. And the complex, buttery, nutty flavor of Manchego cheese is an excellent choice here.
- Sliced Pancetta: Pancetta is seasoned salt cured pork belly. It must be cooked before eating. It’s usually cut into small chunks and sauteed to add intense flavor to soups and stews. For this recipe, look for packages of sliced pancetta.
- Rosemary Sprigs: Will the the “sticks” for those apples to ride horseback.
Step by Step: Apples on Horseback
Pro Tip: Using an apple slicer to slice the apple into easy uniform wedges. You can then cut those wedges in half to make 16 slices. Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Affiliate Member. If you purchase this slicer using the link above, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
- Step 1: Rinse and dry the apple. Cut the apple into 16 wedges.
- Step 2: Arrange the pancetta slices on a work surface and place an apple wedge and a cheese stick in the center of each slice. Roll them up nice and snug, pulling the meat around the cheese and apple.
- Step 3: Secure each by spearing the apple appetizer with the stick end of a cleaned stalk of rosemary, making sure it goes through the cheese and apple.
- Step 4: Heat a large skillet stovetop that’s been sprayed with cooking spray. Add the Apples on Horseback. Cook until the pancetta is golden and crispy and the cheese is melted, turning occasionally. This will take 5 to 6 minutes. Serve hot.
Serving Suggestions
- This apple appetizer will pair well with any holiday party cocktail or mocktail. If serving Apples on Horseback with wine, choose a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio or an unoaked Chardonnay.
- Make Apples on Horseback part of a charcuterie board. They’ll be fine served at room temperature.
- Serve Apples on Horseback with a dollop of Major Gray’s Chutney, or better yet, try it with my recipe for Sweet Tomato Chutney.
Tips For Success
- For even cooking, apple slices should be cut very uniformly. Use a sharp knife to pare the apple, then slice. Using an apple slicer to make this an easy task.
- Make sure to turn often while cooking. This will help the pancetta to become evenly crisp.
- When cooking, watch this appetizer closely. You don’t want to overcook the pancetta to an over-crisp stage to where it becomes leathery.
FAQ’s
I’d stick with Pancetta. Prosciutto is salt cured ham. It can be purchased in a chunk or thin sliced from the deli. Prosciutto is safe to eat without cooking. You’ll find prosciutto commonly on antipasto platters, or wrapped around fruit or vegetables. It’s also great to crumble in salads. With that said, I wouldn’t substitute Prosciutto in this recipe. It’s already cooked, and will become leathery once you try to fry it.
I tried this once and. it was a more complicated adventure and truly prefer pancetta. If you want to use bacon, choose a very thin sliced bacon for ease in cooking. Regular bacon has a lot more fat than pancetta and will take a longer cooking time for the fat to render. I hope you stick with pancetta for an easier fix.
No. This is an appetizer that needs to be prepped, sauteed and served if not immediately, but within a couple of hours. If you try to make this a day ahead of time, the texture of the Pancetta will be compromised when you try to reheat it. And the natural oxidation in apples will become evident.
Well, you can. But then you’re falling back on the more traditional recipe of Devils on Horseback. I urge you to try this more modern and fresh version using apples.
Recipe for Apples On Horseback
So if you’re looking for apple appetizers, look no further. This is fun and absolutely festively delicious. Even though Devils on Horseback is an old traditional appetizer recipe with history, fresh apples makes this a fun, modern party appetizer.
This apple appetizer is a holiday tradition for us. We usually start off the season, just the two of us with this Apples on Horseback and glass of Chambord Prosecco Cocktail. Yup, just the two of us. Let the holiday games begin. 🙂
So here’s a toast to the season :::clink.
More Holiday Appetizer Recipes
- Jalapano Bacon Cheeseball Recipe, This Jalapeno Bacon Cheese Ball Recipe is hands down the best cheese ball appetizer we've ever served! Everyone's favorite ingredients rolled into one tidy package.
- Stuffed Celery Appetizer, Stalks of celery are filled with cream cheese, chopped green olives and walnuts. A holiday appetizer family favorite that's so easy to make and so satisfying with flavor.
- Whipped Goat Cheese with Raspberry Chili Jam, Super easy. Grab a sturdy cracker for this super easy Whipped Goat Cheese and Raspberry Red Chile Jam Appetizer. Salty, creamy, sweet and spicy it makes for an incredible flavor experience.
- Sun-Dried Tomato Stuffed Baked Brie, Brie is stuffed with a luscious mixture of sun dried tomato and basil. Sounds like a perfect appetizer for your next Italian Wine Tasting Party doesn't it?
And if you’re looking for more appetizer recipes, don’t miss my Appetizer and Beverage Category, you’ll find a ton of ideas, including the most popular appetizer recipe on my site for Pear and Blue Cheese Crostini.
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Apples On Horseback
Ingredients
- 16 thin slices Pancetta
- 1 Pink Lady apple peeled and cut into 16 wedges
- 3 ounces Cheddar or Manchego cheese sliced ¼ inch thick and cut into 2-by-½-inch sticks.
- 16 2-inch rosemary sprigs or toothpicks for skewers
Instructions
- Rinse and dry the apple. Cut the apple into 16 wedges.
- Arrange the pancetta slices on a work surface and place an apple wedge and a cheese stick in the center of each slice. Roll them up nice and snug, pulling the meat around the cheese and apple.
- Secure each by spearing it with the stick end of a cleaned stalk of rosemary, making sure it goes through the cheese and apple.
- Heat a large skillet stovetop that's been sprayed with cooking spray. Add the Apples on Horseback. Cook until the pancetta is golden and crispy and the cheese is melted, turning occasionally. This will take 5 to 6 minutes. Serve hot.
Notes
- For even cooking, apple slices should be cut very uniformly. Use a sharp knife to pare the apple, then slice. Using an apple slicer to make this an easy task.
- Make sure to turn often while cooking. This will help the pancetta to become evenly crisp.
- When cooking, watch this appetizer closely. You don’t want to overcook the pancetta to an over-crisp stage to where it becomes leathery.
Nutrition
Apples on Horseback …It’s what’s for a Holiday Apple Appetizer.
Why Trust My Recipes? I am a Culinary School Graduate and a lifelong student of home cooking. I hope to inspire you try to cook as often as you can. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and my recipes are tried and true tested and tested and then tested again before published. To read more take a look at my About Page.
This looks delicious! I just bought a large package of Prosciutto de Parma at Costco the other day. The meat in your photos looks like Prosciutto. I assume I can make these with Prosciutto. I just have to get everything else!
do you think we could bake these in the oven or do them on a griddle? they llok delicious and i want to try them out for wine hour at work